The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-16

Grated to Further Hold Him.
After an eventful experience in securing |
a Jury, the actual trial OF W. i. CofIman,
indicted for murder, has begun. The talk !
ing Of testimony commenced yesterday
morning. George Wilson, colored, was
the first witness, and told OF the sensation
accompanying Eastman's disappearance,
the search and discovery of his remains,
the appearance OF his body, and signs of
struggle ON the banks of Iatchie river, in
which Eastman's body had been sunk.
lie was followed by
CHARLES THORN,
the States main witness, who has for
several DAYS past been the victim of u se-
we're attack Of pneumonia, The witness
was brought TO the courthouse in hack
and entered the court room leaning on the
arm vi a deputy sheriff. He remained on
the witness stand about un hour and n
half. during which time he was subjected
10 a rigid cross examination. At times his
little remaining strength almost failed him,
but bv iorbcaranCc oi attorneys he finally
pulled through and told the following
story:
ii was living at the mill Of Capt. Con-
man last August. The mill was about four
mikes from Brunswick. had been work
ing for totlmnn rs fireman Tor several
months | knew man named Jim Coon
Jim they called him-who drove OK teams
for Coilman. He had only been ut work
about q month. lie was killed | saw him
after death. There were bullet holes in his
body. This WIS Friday night ] saw him
before that ON Tuesday about noon and
again that night A fellow named Dick
Walker riding horse aud armed, had
him walking in front OF him. Walker car
Iied him 90 Capt COilman's Office. went
along 60 the office with Walker.
81 saw Walker and a man named Val
lille. who didn't seem 10 have anything 20
do. with the proceedings. Walker had n
double barieled shotgun. Cofman was
lying down as Eastman came In, and lac
cursed him. Eastman said that he did not
intend to hurt him; that lac Goldman had
hit him GSt. Coilinau called him liar.
Walker got me to hold his gun, aud he
went out After while Charles Weber
and Al Mcllahon came up Ia the Office Of
Goldman Goldman said 10 him, Are you
into this?' | asked him what, and he said,
We mean 10 hang this negro and put him
in the river | said NO. Aitcrward |
went Ia my house 10 see II my wiic's con
dition would permit me 10 leave her and
came back and told Goldman that couldn't
20. that my wife was sick. lie replied,
We'll. we win get help somewhere else
lie then tied the hands OF the negro be-
hind him. Eastman said, Captain you
are going Ia do me some dirt Coilman
said, we are going 10 take You bv near
cnt to Brunswick. lie then said 10 Web
Der, You lock up the shaniy,' and all
marched or with the bound negro.
"ln about half Hn hour ] heard four
shots come from the direction they had
taken, aud in fifteen minutes three more
shots. The next day Mr. Goldman said 10
me that he didn't wnnt me 30 sQucnl about
what | had heard and seen the night be-
fore. told him. of course, | wouldn't.
Aitcrward lac said that in case the body
was found he would have 20 post me. lie
then told me 90 say that had come down
60 tend my fro and had seen Dick
Walker, Eastman aud CoHman In his
Office, and aiiurwarl saw the negro walk
away by himself Goldman said hc had
all the others fixed. | was carried 10 the
place where the body was found Friday
night The body was that OF the man
who had been tied in Colman's office.
The rope ihut he was bound with was
small one The rope around the body and
the sack was about the same size, and
looked "a Doe the zane one.
II didn't see the difficulty between
Eastman and Coilmnn during the day oi
Tuesday | heard IN the afternoon that
Capt. Goldman was cut up, aud went 10
pee him found him bruised little,
but not hurt much.
There was good deal OF bad feeling
between the mono aud Wchbcr and
Walker. Tho Inst two mentioned were
great friends. This y about the slmo
statement rs that made before the COM
hitting magistrate 20 brunswick"
Cruss.cximinrd 81 was born In Misis.
sippi and had lived in different parts oI
that State till / WIS twenty ycar old,
when ! went 10 Louisiana. In about q
year went 10 Illinois. where ! lived ioI
right year.. / have been IN Mississippi
since leaving there lint and worked ON
Gov. Alcom's place. / didn't leave there
suddenly never have killed any man
in my life. made an agreement WITH
Mr. Brooks, acting encouragement, thai
should not boz prosecuted lpr pnrticipa
ton In the murder ii told oil | knew
about the killing | never told Jamc'
Bowen. in williamson county, H., that
had 10 leave Mississippi for killing negro
My wife was cooking for the camp las
summer, but | didn't become offended a
Jim Eastman about objections made {,
the cooking don't remember his muk
ing any.
"rhu Tuosiay night | joined Valliric
Walker and Eastman "a they passed m,
hOwc, ON their way 10 CoiImans office
Goldman, when the negro was marched IN
hru-c, cursed him, and commenced % pm
on his coat llc had been complaining
good deal before that Walker gave m
his gun. and lneclcd down on the out
side Of the office. inside Of which WIS III
negro. Walker, Wchbor. Mcmahon an
Goldman an gathered IN poupsbout tc
feet from me, and carried ON 4 converts
ton IN low tones. Coilman then cmnc :
me and asked me n / wanted 20 ~ wit
them and help hang that negro. ] sai
no, but, bcng afraid TO refuse after the
insisted, pleaded NY wiic's sickness, an
went down 20 see her, and came back an
taid she WIS TOO bad OFT Tor me 10 - ava'
saw tul'nan ihc neat morning in N
Office. lie was up some and lying dow
some. lie told me that day not 10 squca
| sent my family away from the pln,
Tuesday after the killing, because | vi
afraid.
81 told Mr. McMunay that Jim Easima
was hauling wood ior CoGnan and got ou
al the road and abused his team, and VIII,
Coilinan rushed up and cursed him, las
man struck him with q standard Of Il
wagon Goldman told me this lie MI
told me that Eastman tried 30 choke lair
] did not toll McMurriy that Tuesday
noon was thc last time ! raw Eastman.